‘No live conversations about Formula E in India’

London: Despite a current lack of active negotiations, the top brass of Formula E remains optimistic about bringing the all-electric racing series back to India. Formula E co-founder Alberto Longo during a media interaction in London.

The championship’s desire to return is driven not only by fan engagement but by the tangible economic benefits the sport brings to host cities. This financial windfall encompasses media coverage, event logistics, transportation, and direct local employment.

What Happened

Looking back at the logistical operations, Longo brushed off any notion of insurmountable challenges, calling the debut venture a “massive success in terms of attendance”. Beyond the balance sheets and grandstands, Longo feels a deep connection to India’s aggressive pivot toward electric.

• (PTI)Reflecting on the inaugural Indian race – held in Hyderabad in 2023 – Formula E co-founder and chief championship officer Alberto Longo made it clear that the door is wide open for a comeback.

• Longo detailed that a typical Formula E race injects between €80-€100 million into a local economy.

• During the preparation for the inaugural race in Hyderabad, Formula E hired between 2,000-2,500 local staff.

Key Details

Observing the rapid development of the nation’s EV culture over the last 5-10 years, he expressed a sense of pride in Formula E’s role in sparking that interest. We touched buttons to the heart of the people to start looking into electromobility.

• While the Indian government has of late been showing renewed interest in bringing Formula 1 back – which left Indian shores after three races from 2011-2013 – Longo hopes this overall enthusiasm for motorsport.

• Because Formula E traditionally races on street circuits, Dodds noted that the next generation of cars will make track selection much more complicated, requiring surfaces that allow the vehicles to truly “stretch their legs”.

• While Longo remains eager for a city to step forward, Dodds highlighted an incoming technical consideration – the transition to the faster Gen4 cars.

Why It Matters

So, what is keeping Formula E away from India?

• This enthusiasm is shared by Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds, who reinforced that India is an “incredible market rich in opportunity”, pointing to the championship’s Indian partners, including Mahindra, Infosys, and Tata (Jaguar TCS).

• According to Longo, it all boils down to an official invitation.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Hindustan Times as more details emerge